Automatic lifting mechanism for inking apparatus.



Patented Aug.'|, |899.

2 Sheets--Shest l.

T. M. Noam.

AUTJMATIC LIFTING HECHANISM FUR INKING APPARATUS.

(Application led Dec. 7, 1898.)

No Model.)

me Norms Urns co.. PnuwLmwo.. wnsnmaron. DA c.

No. $29,515. Patented Aug. l, 1399.

T. M. NORTH. AUTOMATIC UFTNG MECHANISM FR INKIN- APPARATUS.

n [Application led Dec. 7, 1898.) Y f "No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITDn `Sfrnlf,Es4r

OFFICE.

THOMAS M. NORTH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,IASSIGNOR TO ROBERT HOE, THEO-A KDORE H. MEAD, AND CHARLES W. CARPENTER, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC LIFTING MECHANISM FoaiNKrNe APPARATUS'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,915, dated August 1,1899.

Application and December '7, 189e. serai Nt. 698,502. (No modem To whom, zit'rL-(rg/ coz/ccu: v

Beit known -thatLTnoMAs M. NORTH, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, resid-V ing at New York city, county of Kings," and 5 State of New York, have invented certain new and usefnlllmprovements in Antomatic'Lifting Mechanism for vInking Apparatus, fully described and represented in the following specication and the accompanying drawv ings, forming a part of the same. Y e

This invention relates to certain improvef ments in inking apparatus. Y

It sometimes happens in operating printing machinery that the inking or form rollers are y allowed to remain in contact with therform when the machine is not running. If, however, theform-rollers are allowed to remain in contact with the form for any considerable` length of time when the machine is atrrest,l theywill lose their true circular outline andwill not perform their function satisfactorily. Furthermore, if lthe machine is ofthetype, which prints from planographic surfacesf such, for instance,as from aluminium or zinc plates or from a lithographie stone-a prolonged contact of the ink-rollers with the printing-surface produces a stain on the snr-A face whichhis verydifcniltw` tol remove, as it yields only to repeated washing's, and in some 3o cases it is necessary to resort to etching the surface in order to remove it. Y e 1 The object of this invention -is to p rodncei an automatic mechanism by which the inkingrollers will be lifted from the form when the machine is not running, thus avoidingtheV objections above referred to.

With these and other objects in view the infl vention consists in certain constructions and'` in certain parts, improvements, and combina- 40 tions, as will be hereinafter fully described vand then specifically pointed outin the claims hereunto appended. c

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts, Figure 1 represents in side elevation a printing-.machine to which the invention is applied, certain parts of the machinebeing omitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a 5`o rear elevation of one end of the machine shown in Fig. l, certain parts being removed.

sys

clearness;

Fig. 3 'is a'detail view illustrating the auto. matic de vice by whichA the cl ntch is nncou pled. Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the frame of a machine of the rotary stop-impression-cylinder type, illustrating one embodiment of the invention. The frame 1 supports suitable journal-boxes 2,111 which is mounted a shaft 4:2, said shaft supporting a printingy cylinder 3, the cylinder being preferably con- 6o structed to carry zinc or aluminium printingplates. The impression-cylinder is revolved Ifrom a gear mounted on the main shaft 4. This gear is on the end of the shaft which is farthest from the observer in Fig. 1 and isV omitted from the drawings in the interest of The main shaft 4 is mounted in ,suitable standards or bearings 5, only one of which is shown, and isprovided with a loose pulley 6 and a fast pulley 7. The fast andy loose pulleys,` in connection with the beltshifter,to be herei nafter referred to,constitute a convenient and well-known form of stop- ,ping andvstarting mechanism. Many other forms Vof stopping and starting mechanism mayhowe\er, be substituted for. this form, as the invention is not primarilyconcerned with anyspecilic form of such mechanism. The shaft 4 is operated by a belt running to any convenient source of power and kis further provided with the nsual'balance-wheel S. On the shaft lis mounted 'a loose'gear 9, Ithis, gear .beingconnected tothe loosezpulley in any suitable manner, as by' bolts 10. Meshingkwiththe gear 9 is an intermediate85 `11, which is mounted on ashort stud 12,which is supported in abea'ringl on a bracket 14,

projectin g from the frame; At the other end of the bracket v1t there is' located a short shaft 15, which has bearings both in the bracket 14 9o and in the frame of the machine. This shaft 15 supports; a gear-Wheel 16, which Vmeshes with the intermediate 11, before described. The shaft Y15 also carries a slidin'g'toothed. clutch-collar 17, which is splined to the shaft in the usual manner. This clutch-collar 17 has a groove 18, which is engaged by a pinr19, mounted on lever 20, the said lever -20 being pivoted on a bracket 21, which is suitably` supported on the frame ofthe machine.Y The lever 2O has a projection 22 extending from its side near the bottom, and it has its upper end bent to form an extension or nose 23, the

purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The

shaft 15 supports a loose gear 24, the hub of which is toothed to form a clutch member 25, which at certain times is engaged by the clutch member 18, before described.

The machine is provided with the usual belt-shifting lever 26, which is pivoted to a bracket 27 on the frame of the machine and carries an extension 28, by which the belt B is shifted from the fast to the loose pulley, or vice versa, as the occasion requires. The belt-shifting lever 26 carries a small swivelbearing 29, which is connected to the lever by a nut 30, and this swivel-bearing supports one end of a rod 31. The other end of the rod 31 carries a short bar 32, which 'is provided with a shoulder 33 and a latch 34. The rodv 31 is surrounded by a spring 35, which bears at one end against the swivel-bearing 29 and at the other end against the shoulder 33 ofthe bar 32. The latch end 34 of the bar 32r normally rests on a small bell-crank-36, which is pivoted on a bolt 37, which is supported on the bracket 21. A spring 38 bears against oneof the arms of the bell-crank 36 andkeeps the bell-crank normally in an uprightposition.

Thepinion'24, which has been heretofore described as carried on the shaft 15, meshes withva `gear 39 onv a' shaft 40, which is suit- 4ably-mounted in the frame of the machine and Which'may extend through the machine from side to side incase it is desired to duplicatethe-lifting mechanism to behereinafter described. The gear-wheel 39 carries an angular camv projection 41, which cooperates with'theextension or' nose 23 of the lever 20 to disengage the parts of the clutch, as will behereinafterdescribed.

The gears, clutch',and clutch'- operating? lever which have been described forman eficient means by whichthe mechanism for moving-:theinkingfrollers, which will be here- Ainafter described, is connected to and disconnectedfrom'the stopping-mechanism, so that the'moving mechanism may be automatically operated from'the stoppin gmechanism. vVarious other forms and kinds of connections may, however, .be used.

Thercollar has also projecting from it a camarm'46, which' is provided with a series of cam-.faces 47, the whole forming a sim-ple and effective means for'moving the inking-rollers away from the-path of the form. Other mechanisminight, however, be used for this purpose.

The form-rollers 48 maybe mounted in anycon'venient'way, so as to be moved by-the mechanism before described. Preferably,

however, said rollers are carried by a series of slides 49, theseslides being suitably supported and guided in the frame of the machine. A convenient Way of supporting and guiding them is to provide ribs on the slides which engage guides in the frame, this construction being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The slides 49 are preferably provided with pins 50, which when the .form-rollers are in operative position come opposite depressions between the cam-faces 47, and thus allow the form-rollers'to come in contact with the forms. When, however, the machine is not running, these pins 50 are engaged by the cam-faces 47 and the form-rollers are lifted clear of the forms, as will be hereinafter described. The formrollers are supplied with ink in the usual manner from a fountain 51, which is provided with the usual ductor and transmitting and distributing rolls..

The operation of the machine is as follows: So long as the belt Bis on the fast pulley 7 the impression-cylinder will be operated through the shaftl 4 and'there will be no operation of the mechanism which has been heretofore described. When, however, the belt-shifting lever is operated to shift the belt from the fast to the loose pulley, the rod 3l is=caused to move the bar 32 forward. This causes the shoulder 33 to engage the projection 22 on the lever 2O and throwsthe said lever, causing the clutch member 17 to engage the clutch member 25 and locking the loose gear 24 to'th'e shaft 15. The spring permits a yielding action betweenI the clutch-lever andlthe rod 3l, and thuspreven-ts any'jamming or breakingof the parts in case the teeth of the clutch do not come accurately into mesh as soon as the rod is thrown. As soon as the bar 32 has been advanced its latch portion 34 drops b'ehind the-bell-crank 36, and thus `lreleases the projection 32k fromv the shoulder 33. In the meantime the belt having-passed fairly onto the loosefpulley 6 turns the same and causes the gear 9 to rotate the intermediate 11 and the gear 16. The gear 16 in its turn operatesV the shaft 15, and the' gear 24A having been locked to the shaft by the engagement of the clutch members 18 and 25 turns with the shaft. The gear 24 operates the gear 39,' which in its turn by reason of its engagement with the segment-rack rocksfthe arm 44 and cam 46 and causes the cam-faces-'47 to engage the pins on the slides' 49. The engagement ofthe cam-faces 47 with thev pins'50 operates the slides in which the inking-rollers are mounted By the and raises them clearA of the form. time the gear 39 has rotated sufficiently far to operate the levers 44 and 46 and raise the slidesfthe camI projection A41, which iscarri'ed by the gear, is brought into engagement with the bent nose' 23 of the-lever 2O and rocksthe said Vlever backward, thus jdisengagingthe parts of the clutch 18 25. The disengagement of the parts of the clutch releases the gear 24,

and no further. movement of this `gear or the The shaft parts'operated by it takes place.

IOO

IIO

629,915 Y I e` 40 is provided with a suitable handle 52, and when it is desired to drop the form-rollers in to their inking position the shaft 40 may be rocked by the pressman by means of this handle. This returns the gear 39 to the position it occupied before it was operated by the gear 24, restores the cam t6 toits original position,

and permits the slides carrying the form-rollers to move downward, thus bringing the said rollers again into inkin g position.

"When the pressman operates the beltshifter to shift the belt from the loose to the fast pulley, the rod 3l is drawn backward. This rocks the bell-crank 36 sufficiently to allow the latch 34C to become disengaged from the bell-crank, and as soon as this happens the spring 3S returns the bell-crank toits normal position. The part-sare now ready to be again operated to automatically raise the form-rollers when the machine is stopped.

In the machine shown the rollers are lifted' at one end' only, sufficient movement being! given them to cause them to clear thelforms.

Should ity beY desired to lift them at both ends,

and in actual practice this will be frequently. required, it is only necessary to provide a set of slides for the opposite ends of the rollers and mount a cam similar to the cam 46 on the opposite end of the impression-cylinder shaft. The shaft 40 will carry two gears 39, one on each side of the machine, there being alsov pression.- cylinder, the leversA 53 54 being,

mounted on the plate-carrying cylinder and being controlled by a path cam, which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This construction is not herein claimed, audits operation need not be further described.

The machine is shown as supplied with a damping apparatus W of any usual type.

While the mechanism which has been heretofore described is an effective means for carryingv this invention into effect, it maybe Widely varied, .the gist of the invention being the provision of automatic means by which When the machine is stopped the form-rollers are lifted clear of the forms.

The invention is not confined to a rotary printing-machine, nor to any particular style of printing-machine, nor io` any particular meansy operated from a power-driven part of Vthe machine for automatically moving the inking mechanism away from the path of the form when the machine is stopped, substantially as described.

2. In a printing-machine, the combination with a form-carrier and means for operating it, of suitable inking mechanism, machinestopping devices, and means operated from a power-driven part of the machine and automatically controlled from said stopping devices for moving the inking mechanism away from the path of the form' when the stopping devices are operated, substantially as described. l

3. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating form-carrier andV means for opera-ting it, of inking mechanism, machinestopping devices, and means operated frm a power-driven part of the machine and automatically controlled from said stopping devices for moving the inking mechanism away from the path of the form when the stopping devices. are operated, substantially as described.

4. In a printing-machine, the combination with a form-carrier, of an inking mechanism, supports in which the inking mechanism is mounted, and suitable devices operated from a power-driven partof the machine for automatically moving the supports away from the path of the form when the machine is stopped,

` substantially as described. 5. In a printing-machine, the combination' with a form-carrier and means for operating it, of inking mechanism, Amachine-'stopping devices, acam, and means automatically operatedl from a power-driven part'of the ma' chine and controlled by the movement of the stopping devices for moving the cam so as to move the inking mechanism away from the path of the form, substantially as described.

6. In a printing-machine, the combination with a form-carrier, of an inking mechanism, sliding supports in which the inking mechanism is mounted, machine-stopping devices,

- a cam for lifting the sliding supports, and

means controlled by the stopping devices and operated from a power-driven part of the machine for operating the cam, substantially as described. l

7. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rot-ating form-carrier` and means for operating it, of a set of inking-rolls, slides in which the inking-rolls are mounted, a cam for actuating the slides, machine-stopping devices, and means whereby the cam is antomaticallyoperated from a power-driven part of the machine when the stopping devices are operated, substantially as described.

v8. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating form-carrier and the shaft upon which it is mounted, of an inking mech-vv anism, supports in which the inking mechanism is mounted, a cam mounted y on the shaft of the form-carrier and acting to move the sup- 'i ICO ports, machine-stopping devices, and .means whereby the cam is automaticallyoperated to move the supports and lift the inking mechanism away from the path of the form when the' machine is stopped, substantially as described.

4 9. In a printing-machine, the combination with` arotating form-carrier andthe shaft on whichit is mounted, of an inking mechanism, supports on which it is mounted,.a rocking cam mounted ontheshaft of the form-carrier, an arm for rocking the cam .havingfa segmental rack thereon, a normally inoperative gear meshing with the rack on the arm, means including a clutch mechanisml for rendering` the gear inoperative, machine-stopping devices, and connections including a clutch-operatingdevicebetween the machine-stoppin g devicesV and the gear, substantially as described. .V

10. In a printing-machine, the combination with a'form-carrier, of an inkingmechanisrn therefor, automatic means for moving the ink.- in g mechanismawayfrom the path of the form when the machine is stopped,'and devicesfor throwing said means out of operation when the inking 'mechanism has been moved, substantially as.' described, Y

11.` Ina printingmachine, the combination with aiform-carrier, of an inking mechanism therefor, machine-stoppingdevices,means for.

moving the inking mechanism away from ythe path of the form, said means being automaticallyoperatedby the. stopping` devices, and devicesforthrowing'saidnleansout of operation Vwhen the inking mechanism has been moved, substantially as described.

12. Inaprinting-machine, the combination with aIOrm-carrier, of an in king mechanism therefor, means for moving saidinking mechanismaway from the path ofthe form, stopping niechanism,'and automatically-.operating devices for connecting the means for movingthe `inking mechanism to and disconnecting it fromthe stoppingdevices, 'substantially asdescribed.

13.l In a printing-machine, the combination with'a, form-carrier, of an inkingmechanism therefor, means for moving the inkingv mechanismfaway from the pathof the form, 1na. chine-stopping" devices, connecting mechanism intermediate the machine-stopping devicesand-Hthe` means for moving the in king mechanism, said connecting ymechanism being automatically ope'ratedfrom the machinestopping devices', and means for rendering' said connecting mechanism inoperative after the inking mechanism has been .moved away from the form, substantially as described.

14. In a'printing-machine, the combination` with aform-carrier, of an inking'mechanism therefoiymeansfor moving t-he inking mechanism away from .the path of the form, machine-stopping devices, connecting mechanismf intermediatel the machine-stopping' der.. vices andfthemeans for lmoving theinking mechanism, said connecting mechanism betherefor, automatic means for movin gthe ink.-

ing mechanism away fromthe path of the form when the machine is stopped, devices for throwing saidv ymeans outof, operation.: when the Linkng mechanism has been moved; andI means for causing the in king mechanismtq resume its form-inkin g position substantially as described. i.

16. In a printing-machine, the combination with a form-carrier, ofan inking mechanism therefor., automatic means for moving thefinling mechanism away from thepath of .the

form when themachine is stopped, devices for throwing said means out of ,operation when.v

the inking" mechanism has be wreath@ manually-operated means for causing the inkin'g mechanism to res u meits form-inkingY positi on, substantially .as described.

17. In aprinting-machine, the combi-nation, Iwith a form-carrier, of aninking mechanism therefor, means ,for moving the inkingirnechanism away from the .pathof the form, machine-stopping devices, .connecting mechan-- ism intermediate the machine-stopping Adevices and the means for; moving theinking mechanism, said connecting mechanism being automatically operated from 4.the machine.-

stopping devices,automat.ic lmeans forrendelf ing said 'connecting. mechanism.. inoperative f after the inking mechanismhas been moved away ,from the.form,a1'1d .means for causing -the inkingimechfanism toresumeits form-inkingposition, substantially .as described.

...18. Ina printing-machine, thecombin therefor, means vfor moving the 'inkingmeche anism away from the pathot the form, mav chine-stopping devices, connectingl mechanism intermediatethe machine-stopping de vices and themechanism for moving .the inking mechanism, said connecting mechanism being automaticallyv operated` from. themachine-stopping' devices, automatic .means Afor rendering' said connecting mechanism in opf.

erative after the inking mechanismhas beenV` moved away rfrom the lform,'and manuallyoperated means for restoring the inking mechanism to the form-inking position, substantially as described.

.19. In a printing-machine, the

with afo'rm-carrier, of'an.inkinglmechanism.` therefor, normally inactivemeans formoving. theinking mechanism away fromthe path of the form, a shaft on which the form-carrier is mounted,fas`t and loose pulleyson the shaft, a heit-shifter,gearingincluding'a clutchbetween the loose pulley'andthe means for moyin g the inking mechanism away from the path of the form, a clutch-operatin g mechanism,

. in.` with a form-carriei-,of Van yinking mechanism lng automatically operated from themachine-` IOO IIO

and connections between the same and the cam operates to disconnect the parts of the i and spring connections between the Vsame and the belt-shifter, substantially as' described.'

2l. Ina printing-machine, the combination with a form-carrier, of an inking mechanism therefor, normally inactive means for moving the inking mechanism away from the path of the form, a shaft on which ther form-carrier` is mounted,fast and loose pulleys on the shaft, a;l belt-shifter, gearing including a clutch between the loose pulleyand the means for moving the inki ng mechanism away from the path of the form, a clutch-operating mechanism, connections between the same and the beltshifter, and means for disconnecting the clutch after the inking'mecha'nis'm has been moved, substantially as described.

22. In a printing-machine, the combination with a form-carrier, of an inking mechanism therefor, normally inactive means for moving the inking mechanism away from the path lof the form, a shaft on which the form-carrier is mounted, fast and loose pulleys on the shaft, a belt-shifter, gearing including a clutch between the l'oose pulley and the means for moving the inking mechanism away from the form, a clutch-operating mechanism, connections between the same and the belt-shifter, and automatic means for disconnecting -tl1e.`clutch after the inking mechanism has been moved, substantially as described.

23. In a printing-machine,`the combination with a form-carrier, of an inking mechanism, normally inactive means for moving the inking mechanism away from the path of the form, a train of gearing including a clutch for operating the means for moving the inking mechanism, machine-stopping devices, and means operated by the machine-stopping devices for connecting the clutch and causing the movement of the moving devices, substantially as described.

24. In a printing-machine, the combination with a form -carrier,` of inking mechanism therefor, normallyinactive means for moving the inking mechanism away from the path of the form, machine-stopping devices, a train of gea-ring between the stopping devices and the moving devices, one of said gears being provided with a cam, a clutch in said train of gearing, a lever for operating the clutch,

' means operated by the machine-stopping devices for causing the lever to connect the two parts of the clutch, said clutch-opera ti ng lever having a nose or extension lying in the path of the cam on the gear-wheel, whereby the clutch after'the moving devices have been operated, substantially as described.

25. In ajprinting-machine, the combination with a form-carrier, of means for operating the same including a shaft carrying fast and loose pulleys, inking mechanism, normally inactive devices for movingthe inking mechanism away from the path of the form, a train of gearing between the loose pulley and the moving devices, a clutch in said train, abeltshifter, and devices operated by the beltshifter to cause the parts of the clutchto engage 'andthe train of 'gearing to operate the moving devices, substantially as described.

t 2G. In a printing-machine, the combination with a form-carrier, of means for operating the same including a shaft carrying fast and loose pulleys, inking mechanism, normally inactive devices for moving the inking mechanism away from the path of the form, a train of gearing between the loose pulley and the moving devices, a clutch in said train, a beltshift-er, devices operated by the belt-shifter to cause the parts of the clutch to engage and the Vtrain of gearing to operate the moving devices, and automatic means for disconnecting the clutch substantially as described.

27. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating form-carrier and the shaft `upon which it is mounted, of inking mechanism, a cam on the shaft of the form-carrier for moving the inl/zing mechanism away from the form, an arm carrying a segm ent for operating segment-carryin g arm to operate the cam, and

a handle on the shaft of the gear for operating the same and the segment-carrying arm to restore the cam and inkiu g mechanism to their normal position, substantially as described.

` 28. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotatingform-carrierand the shaft upon which it -is mounted, of inking mechanism, a cam on the shaft of the form-carrier for moving the inking mechanism away from the form, an arm carrying a segment-rack for operating t-he cam, a shaft, a normally stationary gear on said shaft meshing with the segment-rack, machine-stopping devices, means whereby the gear is thrown into operation by the machine-stopping devices, and means carried by the gear whereby its operating mechanism is rendered inoperative after the inking mechanism hasbeen moved away from the path of the form, substantially as described. 29. In a printing-machine,the combination with a rotating form-carrier, of operating de- IOG - the cam, a shaft, normally stationary gear on IIC)l IZO vices therefor including a shaft carrying fast and loose pulleys, a belt-shifter, a train of gearing oper-ated from the loose pulley, a clutch in said train, an operating-lever for shifting the clutch, a spring latch-rod carried by the belt-shifter for operating the lever, inking mechanism, a normally inactive cam for moving the inking mechanism away from the path of the form, connections from the cam to the train of gearing, whereby when the beltshifter is operated the operating-lever is caused to throw the clutch into engagement and operate the cam to move the inking mechanism, substantially as described.

30. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating form-carrier, of operating devices therefor includinga shaft carrying fast and loose pulleys, a belt-shifter, a train of gearing operated from the loose pulley, a clutch in said train, an operating-lever for shifting the clutch, a latch-rod carried by the belt-shifter for operating the lever, inking mechanism, a normally inactive cam for movl ing the inking mechanism away from the path of the form, connections from the cam to the with a rotating form-carrier, of operatingrdevices therefor including a shaft carrying fast and loose pulleys, -a belt-shifter, a train of gearing operated from the loose pul1ey,.a

clutch in saidtrain, an operating-lever for,`

shifting the clutch, a latch-rod carried by the belt-shifter for operating the lever, inking mechanism,a cam for moving'the inkingmechanism away from the path of the form, connections from the cam to the train of gearing, whereby when the belt-shifter is operated the operating-lever is caused to throw the clutch into engagement and operate the cam to move the inking mechanism, means carried by the gear-train for throwing the clutch out of operation when the inking mechanism has been moved, and devices for restoring the cam to its original position to permit the inking mechanism to again Contact with the form, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' yTHOMAS M. NORTH.

Witnesses: F. W. II. CRANE, E. L. SPEIR. 

